Equality For Your Girls In Your Parks

In 2004, the California Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law AB 2404 to expand opportunities for girls to play sports in “community parks and recreation.” The law says that girls have to be given equal opportunities to participate in community youth athletic programs equal, both in quality and scope, to boys. While many mistakenly believe the law becomes effective in 2015, in fact, the law went into effect January 1, 2005 and is currently applicable.

.In poor communities, there is a large gap in sports participation between boys and girls. Recent research shows that in California “low-income teens have fewer options for physical activity, so they are more dependent on parks.” Data suggests that community youth athletic programs are uniquely situated to promote equal access to athletic opportunities for low-income girls. Similarly, they suggest that when girls in general are under-represented in park-sponsored youth athletic programs, low-income girls are disproportionately missing out on the benefits of athletic participation.

Studies have shown that high school girls who participate in team sports are less likely to drop out of school, less likely to smoke or drink, or become pregnant. And they are more likely to go on to college. The skills that young women gain from sports participation, including teamwork, leadership, and discipline, can be crucial to their later success in higher education and employment.

Studies have shown that high school girls who participate in team sports are less likely to drop out of school, less likely to smoke or drink, or become pregnant. And they are more likely to go on to college. The skills that young women gain from sports participation, including teamwork, leadership, and discipline, can be crucial to their later success in higher education and employment.

In particular, like Title IX, AB 2404 provides three ways that a local government can show that it “effectively accommodate[s] the athletic interests and abilities of both genders.” The three ways to show compliance are:

The community youth athletics program opportunities for boys and girls are provided in numbers substantially proportionate to their respective numbers in the community; OR

Where the members of one gender have been, and continue to be, underrepresented in community youth athletics programs, the city, county, city and county, or special district can show a history and continuing practice of program expansion and allocation of resources that are demonstrably responsive to the developing interests and abilities of the members of that gender [Note: This way of showing compliance is no longer available starting Jan. 1, 2015, as departments will have had ten years to appropriately expand by 2015]; OR

Where the members of one gender are underrepresented in community youth athletics programs, the city, county, city and county, or special district can demonstrate that the interests and abilities of the members of that gender have been fully and effectively accommodated by the present program and allocation of resources.

If you have questions about compliance in your community, contact the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center’s Fair Play for Girls in Sports project.

Disclaimer

This Fact Sheet is intended to provide accurate, general information regarding legal rights relating to employment in California. Yet because laws and legal procedures are subject to frequent change and differing interpretations, the Legal Aid Society–Employment Law Center cannot ensure the information in this Fact Sheet is current nor be responsible for any use to which it is put. Do not rely on this information without consulting an attorney or the appropriate agency about your rights in your particular situation.